Georgetown University’s Edmund A. Walsh School of Foreign Service, founded in 1919, is a premier school of international affairs in Washington, D.C.

This event is the Program for Jewish Civilization's Hal Israel Endowed Lectureship in Jewish-Catholic Relations.

His Excellency Nuno Brito, Ambassador to the United States, and Ms. Manuela Franco, Director of The Diplomatic Institute, Lisbon, will be speaking as part of this special lecture series recognizing Aristides de Sousa Mendes.

Aristides Sousa de Mendes served as Portugal's general-consul in Bordeux France during the mid-twentieth century. In 1966, Yad Vashem recognized Aristides de Sousa Mendes as Righteous Among the Nations for aiding in the safe escape of over 30,000 refugees during World War II.

With an expert background in international relations, Ms. Franco has authored three books and numerous research articles including "The Twentieth-Century Portuguese Jews from Salonika: 'Oriental Jews of Portuguese Origin'" in Borders and Boundaries in an around Dutch Jewish History (Amsterdam University Press 2011). She is currently the Director of the Diplomatic Institute in Lisbon, Portugal.